Between the Pages

Part III

The windshield wipers slapped rhythmically against the windshield of Spider’s car as he drove along the empty country roads.  The fields, full of brown weeds and dead grasses, were a contrast against the dark grey sky covered with ashen clouds.  

“Where did you say we’re going?” asked Tad Webster.

Spider, his older brother, sighed.  “We’re going to Sleepyside.  It’s a small town in Westchester County.”

“It sounds stupid,” scowled Tad.

“I could always take you back to Uncle Earl and Aunt Lois.” Spider was growing weary of Tad’s whining.

“No, you can’t.  They said they couldn’t take care of me any more.”  

“Just give Sleepyside a chance. You might like it.”

Spider was relieved when Tad, staring out the side window, became silent.  “Fifty-one days ago, they were here and life was perfect,” reflected Spider as he drove along. He thought back over the last eight  weeks of his life and how so much had changed.  It started on the fateful night both his parents were killed in a car accident.  Then he had to deal with their funerals and getting their estates settled.  He had managed to graduate from the police academy, but the graduation was far different from the one he had dreamed about.  Instead of having his parents watching proudly, Spider only had a grumpy Tad there to see him receive his certification.  The week before graduation, Spider had interviewed with several departments.  When he received an offer from the Sleepyside Police Department, he studied the community and its schools, knowing that wherever he settled, he would also have to make a life for his little brother, who was now in his care.  

“There’s baseball, right?” Tad’s sudden question jarred Spider’s melancholy thoughts.

“Yep.  That’s the first thing I checked on.  And the schools are really good.  Plus, it’s a small community so It will be easier for me to keep an eye on you.”

“I can take care of myself.  You might have left me with Uncle Earl and Aunt Lois, but I had to do all the work.  Aunt Lois even made me help with the laundry.  And let me tell you, she has mighty big underpants.”

Spider chose to ignore Tad’s last comment and instead concentrated on passing a slow moving truck.  “Doing your own laundry will come in handy now that it’s just you and me,” he said as he smoothly returned to his own lane.

“I ain’t doing no laundry,” announced Tad.

“What kind of language is that?” demanded Spider.  “Stop talking like you were raised on the streets.  Dad would have a fit.”

“Yeah, well Dad isn’t here, is he?”  Tad’s face was as dark as the muddy fields around them.

The swooshing of the wipers soon lulled Tad to sleep.  Appreciating the silence, Spider drove along and thought about what was waiting for him and his brother.  He had found a  place for them to live, but could only afford a one-bedroom apartment.  The landlady offered to keep an eye on Tad in exchange for Spider helping her with small chores in the building. Even though Tad was almost ten, Spider knew he needed an adult around him.  Fortunately, Spider, in his new position, had managed to secure a daytime shift.  He figured when Tad got older, he would be able to work the more profitable night shifts.  He dared not think about how he would take care of everything that needed to be done; he could only handle one day at a time.

“Hey, look.”Spider pointed to a sign that read “Sleepyside. 5 miles ahead.”

Stirring, Tad sat up and looked around. “Is this what the town looks like?”  

“I’m sure it will look better when we actually get there,” answered Spider, trying to remain upbeat.

“That’s good because all I see right now is a bunch of mud and crap.”

“Be patient.”

When Spider and Tad finally made their way into Sleepyside, they were surprised to find a picturesque town with lots of small shops and businesses along the main street.  

“Where’s our place?” demanded Tad.

“Right down this street.”  Spider made a right turn onto a narrow street lined with older houses and apartment buildings.  “And, here we are.”  Spider stopped the car in front of a square brick building.  A narrow sidewalk led from the street to the centered front door, which allowed access to the four apartments that were contained within.   Wet leaves from the abundance of trees covered the flower beds and an old pumpkin lay shriveled and rotting in the bushes.

“Is this where we’re going to live?” asked Tad, his lip curled in disgust.

“Yes,” answered Spider wearily.  “Let’s go get the key and get moved in.  If we work fast enough, we’ll have time to go get something to eat.”

Spider and Tad loaded their arms with suitcases and bags, then went inside.  After a brief conference with the landlady, the two climbed the stairs to the second floor apartment.  

“And...voila!” Spider threw open the door and went into their new residence.  

Tad followed and immediately dumped the load he was carrying in the middle of the room.  “This doesn’t look anything like our house.”

“That’s because it isn’t.”  Spider turned and looked Tad squarely in the eye. “Tad, this is the best I could do.”

Spider walked around and examined the clean, furnished apartment.  The living room was large enough, with a double window that looked out on the street below. A brown plaid couch and two easy chairs were grouped together.  The kitchen was off the living room, and even though the floor was an old dated tile, the appliances were relatively new and everything was clean.  Another door off the living room led to the bedroom with an attached bathroom.  

“Uh, Spider, I think there’s a problem,” said Tad after exploring the apartment.

“What?”

“I don’t see a bedroom for you.”  

“Look, Tad, for now, you and I are going to have to share a room.  This is all I can afford.”  Spider gritted his teeth in anticipation of the tantrum he knew was imminent.

“What?  I’m not sharing a room with you.  No way, no how.  You can just sleep out here on the couch.”

“Nope. There are two beds in that bedroom and I’ll be in one.  If you don’t want to share the room, then you can sleep out here on the couch.”

Tad sniffed the air suspiciously.  “I think somebody lived here with a cat.  Can’t you smell the pee?”

“Nobody lived here with a cat.  There are no animals allowed in the building.  Now come on, let’s get this stuff put away.”

Tad kicked at his suitcase in an attempt to get it into the bedroom,  then finally picked it up and carried it.  Seeing that his brother was occupied, Spider went back to the car and carried in boxes of kitchen ware, which he unpacked and spread out on the limited counter space.  After going out again, he returned with another armful of boxes which he stacked in the corner of the living room

“I’d make my bed but I don’t know where the sheets are,” said Tad, coming out of the bedroom.

Spider motioned with his thumb.  “They’re still in the car.  Go get them.”

Tad went out the front door while Spider carried a box of stuff into the small bathroom.  After filling the medicine cabinet, he tossed the box into the corner of the bedroom.  When Tad returned, the two got to work making the beds.  After finishing up a few more household chores, Spider decided they were done for the day.  

“Come on, let’s go.  The landlady said there’s a great place in town to get burgers.  She said we can’t miss it because it looks like an old train car. Then, tomorrow, we’ll get you enrolled in school and get you signed up for baseball.  How’s that sound?”

“Like torture.”

Spider gave Tad a warning look.

“Okay.  I’ll give it a chance.”  Tad opened the door and stepped out.  Spider followed, but stopped when he noticed a small hook on the front door.  

“Hey, look at that.”

Tad shrugged.  “It’s an old hook, so what?”

“So...this.”  Spider went to the corner of the living room and opened a box.   After digging through it, he pulled out the wooden “W” that he had removed from his parents’ front door.  After placing it on the hook, he stepped back.

“What do you think?” Spider studied the handmade item.

“It looked dorky then and it looks dorky now,” answered Tad.

Spider exhaled in frustration.

“But I like it,” added Tad quickly.  “It’s like a part of Mom is here.”

Spider nodded at his little brother, then the two headed out in search of a good burger in their new town.

Word count - 1473

Author’s notes:  a big “thank you” to my daughter Katie/Katia and my sister Judith for their editing and continuity advice.  And a “tip of the hat” to Jixwrimo 2018 and its push to get me to write this tale. Graphics from pixabay.com.